Company Crowdfunds Space Coffee Cups for Barista-nauts

The company that put the “cup” in the first space cup of coffee now wants to put one in your hands.

IRPI, the makers of the specially-designed “Space Cups” now being used on the International Space Station, have launched a crowdfunding campaign to commercially make the capillary-flow containers. The Oregon-based R&D firm is seeking at least $50,000 to give everyone the chance to drink like an astronaut.

“There are currently six of these cups on Earth,” remarked Mark Weislogel, lead for the “Capillary Effects of Drinking in the Microgravity Environment” study. “The other six are in space.”